David vs Goliath Again

Week of December 1

 It is a modern day David vs Goliath. The battlefield this time is not Sokoh in Judah but quiet Montpelier, Vt. Goliath is not a nine foot Philistine but a major ice cream company and David is an Italian Ice vendor named Jimmy DePierro.

 

The stone in David's slingshot is a one page flyer from Jimmy protesting the decision of the Champlain Valley Folk Festival officials barring him this year, "because the sponsor of the festival (the ice cream maker) has asked that we not have venders that compete with their products."

 

The remainder of the flyer contrasts Jimmy's single cart $20,000 a year seasonal Italian Ice business with the multi-million dollar ice cream maker behemoth. It ends with a plea for justice.

 

A call to the phone number at the bottom of the flyer produces Jimmy himself. He can't talk right now because he is busy making Italian Ice. The festival officials called saying there had been a misunderstanding and he could participate as usual.

 

Jimmy's stone had found its mark. The giant on this sunny day in Vermont's capital is not slain but has been cut down to size.

 

 

The Biblical slaying of Goliath was witnessed by two large armies centuries ago and has been preserved for all time.

 

This Vermont version will not make recorded history and will soon pass into oblivion. However, justice did prevail again.

 

We can't help but think that God smiled over both battles. 

We'll bet an ice cream on that.(Ed)

 

Jimmy DePierro

Montpelier, Vt.